UNHCR Regional Trends Mid-2023 Forcibly Displaced and Stateless Persons

Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

Regional Overview



14.3 million
People UNHCR protects and/or assists in Asia-Pacific

12.7 million
Forcibly displaced in the region, including refugees, people in refugee-like situations, asylum-seekers and IDPs



7.4 million
Refugees, including people in refugee-like situations, and asylum-seekers in the region

5.3 million
IDPs in the region

2.5 million
Stateless persons in the region

Population figures in Asia-Pacific




- 6% increase in the total number of forcibly displaced people compared to end-2022

- Refugees (including people in refugee-like situation) and asylum-seekers increased by 5% from 7M to 7.4M

- IDPs increased to 5.3M, a 7% increase from 5M at end-2022

Refugees & People in Refugee-like Situations

Refugees from Asia-Pacific


-The Afghan refugee population (including those in refugee-like situations) continues to be the largest in the region with 5.6 million hosted in the region.

-Afghanistan overtook Ukraine to become the second largest country of origin of refugees (including refugee-like) globally, with 6.1 million hosted by 106 countries globally.

-Myanmar is the second largest country of origin of refugees (including refugee-like) in Asia-Pacific and the sixth largest globally. There are 1.27 million refugees and people in refugee-like situations from Myanmar. The vast majority (99.7%) are hosted within the region, with over three-quarters hosted in Bangladesh.

Refugees in Asia-Pacific


-The Islamic Republic of Iran and Türkiye each hosted 3.4 million refugees (including refugee-like), the largest populations worldwide. The vast majority of refugees and people in refugee-like situations in the Islamic Republic of Iran are Afghans.

-Pakistan is the fifth-largest refugee hosting country globally, with 2.1M refugees and people in refugee-like situations (almost all of whom are Afghans).

-Bangladesh is the tenth-largest refugee hosting country, with 961,800 refugees (mainly Rohingya).

Asylum-Seekers

Asylum-seekers from Asia-Pacific





Afghanistan (324,500) is by far the largest country of origin for asylum seekers from the Asia-Pacific region, followed by China (121,000), India (118,100), Iran (77,800) and Bangladesh (65,600).

Asylum-seekers in Asia-Pacific





Given capacity constraints and limited protection value for refugee recognition, Pakistan does not conduct RSD for all asylum seekers, other than for those where there may be a protection dividend such as resettlement.

In Malaysia, the strategic use of Refugee Status Determination (RSD) is utilized. As a result, some asylum seekers from populations with a high presumption of eligibility are provided with UNHCR card/documentation, but a decision may never be issued owing to a lack of any additional protection value in conducting mandate RSD. Those cases that are identified for resettlement needs would have to undergo a mandate RSD, however.

Internally Displaced Persons

Internally Displaced Persons

The newly displaced IDPs during the first half of 2023 were in Myanmar (443,000) and the Philippines (80,000).

Solutions

Solutions

During the first half of 2023, some 6,300 refugees returned to their country of origin in the region, including some 6,100 Afghans and some 240 Sri Lankans.

During the first half of 2023, some 175,000 IDPs returned mainly in Myanmar (89,400) and the Philippines (82,900).

Myanmar Situation

Global

3.16 million

Forcibly displaced people from Myanmar globally


1.27 million

Refugees from Myanmar globally


50k

Asylum-seekers from Myanmar around the world


1.85 million

IDPs in Myanmar

Asia-Pacific Region

3.15 million (99.7%)

Forcibly displaced people from Myanmar in Asia-Pacific


1.26 million (99.7%)

Refugees from Myanmar in Asia-Pacific


44k (88%)

Asylum-seekers from Myanmar in Asia-Pacific


1.85 million

IDPs in Myanmar

Myanmar Situation Population





3.7 million

People with and for whom UNHCR works from Myanmar in Asia and the Pacific region

Afghanistan Situation

Global

9.7 million

Forcibly displaced Afghans globally


6.1 million

Afghan refugees and people in refugee-like situations globally


325k

Afghan asylum-seekers around the world


3.25 million

Afghan IDPs

Asia-Pacific Region

8.9 million (92%)

Forcibly displaced Afghans are in Asia-Pacific


5.56 million (91%)

Afghan refugees and people in refugee-like situations in Asia-Pacific


59k (18%)

Afghan asylum-seekers in Asia-Pacific


3.25 million

Afghan IDPs

South-West Asia

8.8 million (91%)

Forcibly displaced Afghans are in South-West Asia


5.51 million (90%)

Afghan refugees and people in refugee-like situations in South-West Asia


49k (15%)

Afghan asylum-seekers in South-West Asia


3.25 million

Afghan IDPs

Statelessness

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year idp
2010 10.32914
2011 11.62813
2012 10.76541
2013 13.48312
2014 16.31171
2015 10.89438

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2011 11.62813
2012 10.76541
2013 13.48312
2014 16.31171
2015 10.89438

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